Cats are enigmatic creatures, and their behaviors often leave us curious. One common and sometimes puzzling behavior is licking. You might find yourself wondering, “Why does my cat lick my hand?” when your feline companion starts grooming you with their sandpaper-like tongue. Licking is indeed a normal behavior for cats, with felines dedicating a significant portion of their waking hours—up to 8%—to grooming themselves. But when that grooming is directed at you, it’s natural to want to understand the reasons behind it.
While scientists haven’t pinpointed one definitive answer to why cats lick people, there are several well-supported theories. Understanding these potential motivations can help you better interpret your cat’s behavior and strengthen your bond with your furry friend.
Decoding the Licks: Why Cats Lick You
Here are some of the primary reasons why your cat might be licking your hand, or other parts of you:
Expressing Affection: The Language of Feline Love
One of the most heartwarming reasons for cat licking is affection. Cats engage in what’s known as affiliative behavior, which encompasses friendly and altruistic actions. Think about how mother cats groom their kittens—this nurturing behavior extends into adulthood as cats groom each other, a practice called allogrooming. Allogrooming is a social bonding activity, strengthening relationships within a cat community. When your cat licks you, they might be extending this affiliative grooming behavior to you, signifying that they see you as part of their social group and are nurturing your bond. It’s a feline way of saying, “I love you” and “You’re part of my family.”
Seeking Your Attention: A Learned Behavior
Cats are intelligent and quickly learn what actions elicit a response from their humans. If you’ve ever talked to, petted, or interacted with your cat when they started licking you, even unintentionally, you might have inadvertently reinforced this behavior. Your cat may have learned that licking is an effective way to get your attention. In their mind, a lick equals interaction, be it verbal praise, gentle pets, or simply your focused gaze. Therefore, sometimes a lick is simply a polite (albeit sandpaper-y) way for your cat to say, “Hey, notice me!”
Identifying You as Part of Their Territory: Scent Marking
Scent is a crucial communication tool in the feline world. Cats use scent marking to establish territory and communicate with each other. Mother cats lick their kittens partly to create a unified group scent, ensuring all members of the family smell familiar. Similarly, when your cat licks you, they could be imbuing you with their scent, essentially marking you as part of their territory or social group. This scent marking is a way of saying, “You belong with me,” and solidifying your place in their feline world.
Kittenhood Comfort: Rooted in Early Experiences
Behaviors from kittenhood can persist into adulthood. Think about kittens kneading and suckling while nursing. If a cat was weaned too early, they might carry over these comfort-seeking behaviors into adulthood. Licking, in this context, can become a self-soothing mechanism, reminiscent of the comfort and security they felt while nursing. If your cat licks you and also kneads their paws or purrs simultaneously, it’s highly likely they are tapping into this kitten-related behavior, seeking comfort and reassurance from you.
Exploring Tastes and Scents: A Sensory Investigation
Cats are naturally curious and use their senses to explore their environment. Your skin or hair might carry interesting scents or tastes that pique your cat’s curiosity. Perhaps you’ve used a lotion, shampoo, or another topical product with an intriguing aroma or flavor to your feline. While this might seem harmless, it’s crucial to be cautious. Never allow your cat to lick you after applying topical products, as some can contain ingredients that are toxic to cats.
Beyond scented products, human sweat contains salts and sugars that some cats might find appealing. A lick could simply be your cat investigating a curious taste or scent they’ve detected on your skin.
Anxiety and Stress Relief: A Displacement Behavior
Licking can sometimes be a displacement behavior, a way for cats to cope with stress or anxiety. While stress more commonly manifests as excessive self-grooming in cats, it can also be directed towards you. Consider if there are any potential stressors in your cat’s environment that might be triggering this licking behavior. New visitors, loud noises, changes in routine, or other disruptions can induce anxiety in cats. If you suspect anxiety is the root cause, observe your cat’s behavior for other signs of stress. Untreated anxiety can escalate, and the licking behavior could become compulsive, negatively impacting your cat’s well-being.
Underlying Medical Issues: When Licking Becomes a Concern
In some instances, excessive licking of you or objects in their environment can be a symptom of an underlying medical problem. Conditions causing nausea, pain, or general discomfort can manifest as increased licking. If your cat’s licking behavior is sudden, excessive, or accompanied by other changes in behavior or health, it’s essential to consult with your veterinarian. They can rule out any medical causes and provide appropriate guidance.
Why Does a Cat’s Lick Feel Like Sandpaper?
If you’ve ever experienced a cat’s lick, you know it’s not exactly a soft, gentle sensation. A cat’s tongue feels rough, almost like sandpaper. This is due to the unique structure of their tongues. Cat tongues are covered in hundreds of tiny, firm, backward-facing spines called papillae. These papillae are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails. They serve several important functions:
- Grooming Efficiency: The papillae act like tiny combs, helping to remove loose fur, dirt, and debris from a cat’s coat during self-grooming.
- Applying Saliva: The spines also help distribute saliva across the fur, which aids in cooling the cat through evaporation and keeps their coat clean.
- Grip and Texture: These spines can also help cats grip food and lap up liquids.
So, while that sandpaper-like lick might not be the most comfortable sensation for you, it’s perfectly designed for a cat’s grooming and survival needs.
Is It Safe to Let Your Cat Lick You?
Generally, allowing your cat to lick you is safe, but there are a few potential considerations:
- Bacteria: Cats’ mouths, like those of all animals, contain bacteria. If a cat licks an open wound on your skin, there is a small risk of bacterial infection, although this is rare. Individuals with compromised immune systems should be particularly cautious.
- Disease Transmission: While contracting a disease from a cat through licking is very uncommon, it’s always wise to practice basic hygiene. Avoid letting your cat lick your face or any broken skin to minimize any potential risk.
- Topical Products: As mentioned earlier, be mindful of any lotions, ointments, or other topical products you use. Some can be harmful if ingested by your cat. If you use such products, consult your veterinarian to ensure they are safe for your feline companion if licked.
In most everyday scenarios, a lick from your cat is a harmless and often affectionate gesture.
How to Discourage Cat Licking (If You Prefer They Didn’t)
While cat licking is often a sign of affection, you might find it uncomfortable or simply prefer your cat to express their love in other ways. If you want to minimize licking, here are some gentle and effective strategies:
- Avoid Punishment: Never resort to punishment like scolding, spraying water, or using bitter-tasting sprays. Punishment can damage your relationship with your cat, create anxiety, and potentially worsen the licking behavior.
- Cover Up: If you know your cat is prone to licking, wear long-sleeved clothing or drape a small towel over your skin during interactions, especially in areas they typically target.
- Withdraw Attention: When your cat starts to lick, calmly get up and walk away. If attention-seeking is the motivation, removing your attention should discourage the behavior over time. However, ensure you are still providing plenty of positive attention at other times, just not when the licking starts.
- Redirection with Toys and Puzzles: Offer your cat a stimulating alternative when they start licking. Provide a food puzzle toy or toss a cat toy to redirect their focus. When they engage with the toy, you can then walk away, reinforcing that playing with toys is a good way to get your attention.
- Positive Reinforcement: Actively reward your cat when they interact with you without licking. Praise them, pet them, or engage in play when they are being affectionate in other ways. This reinforces the behaviors you prefer.
- Environmental Enrichment: Ensure your cat has a stimulating environment with plenty of toys, scratching posts, vertical spaces like cat trees and perches, and opportunities for play and interaction. Aim for at least 15 minutes of dedicated interactive playtime with your cat a couple of times a day. A bored or under-stimulated cat might be more likely to seek attention through licking.
If the licking persists despite these efforts, or if it seems excessive or compulsive, consult your veterinarian. They can help determine if there are any underlying medical or emotional factors contributing to the behavior.
Decoding Cat Licks: FAQs
Why does my cat lick my face?
Cats may lick your face for many reasons, including affection, attention-seeking, scent marking, anxiety, or even due to a medical issue. If the licking is excessive or concerning, it’s always best to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any underlying problems.
Why does my cat lick me then bite me?
Sometimes, licking can transition into biting. This might happen if your cat becomes overstimulated during petting, becomes unhappy with the interaction for some reason, or is experiencing pain or discomfort. If your cat bites, it’s recommended to consult with a vet to rule out medical concerns and to learn strategies to help manage biting behavior.
References
- Eckstein RA and Hart BJ. (2000). The organization and control of grooming in cats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 68(2):131-140.
- Noel AC and Hu DL. (2018). Cats use hollow papillae to wick saliva into fur. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, doi:10.1073/pnas.1809544115.
WRITTEN BY
Alison Gerken, DVM (Clinical Behavior Resident)
Veterinarian
Dr. Alison Gerken is a board-certified veterinary behaviorist with extensive experience in feline behavior. She is dedicated to helping pet owners understand and address behavioral issues in their animals, promoting stronger human-animal bonds and improving pet welfare.
